Acoustic sensor and array thereof

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides an acoustic sensor having one or more segments that are electrically coupled to provide a response corresponding to a hydrodynamic pressure applied to the segments. Each segment contains a substrate of a desired shape with a concavity on an outer surface that is sealingly enclosed by an active member made from a flexible, resilient piezoelectric material. PVDF material is preferably used as the piezoelectric active element. The active member is covered with a protective layer of a suitable material, preferably a polyvinyl material. A single segment may be used as a sensor or a plurality of suitably configured segments may be suitably coupled to form the sensor. The sensor may be used as a hydrophone on a hydrophone cable commonly used for performing seismic surveys for geophysical exploration. In such applications, a plurality of hydrophones are placed equally spaced along the cable. In the preferred embodiment, two hydrophone segments are securely be placed around the cable. The segments are electrically coupled to each other and to a conductor in the cable. In operation, the hydrophone cable is placed at the bottom of a water-covered area or towed behind a seismic vessel to conduct seismic surveys.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to the field of acoustic sensors and more particularly to a novel hydrophone and method of making the same which may be used under great hydrostatic pressure and under severe hydrodynamic conditions.

2. Description of the Related Art

Piezoelectric hydrophones of various configurations have been used in a variety of applications. In geophysical exploration, arrays of hydrophones are used to detect seismic shock waves from the earth's substrata in response to induced shock waves at known locations on the earth. Hydrophones also are used in boreholes to conduct vertical seismic surveys and for a variety of other applications. Acoustic pressure variations across the hydrophone produce electrical signals representative of the acoustic pressure, which are processed for desired applications.

Piezoelectric hydrophones typically contain a piezoelectric material as an active element which produces electrical signals when subjected to acoustic pressures. Ceramic materials such as barium titane or lead zirconate titane have been used in various configurations as one class of piezoelectric materials in hydrophones. U.S. Pat. No. 4,092,628 discloses the use of a thin ceramic wafer that operates in the bender mode. U.S. Pat. No. 4,525,645 shows a unit shaped as a right cylinder that operates in the radial mode. Ceramic materials are brittle and tend to shatter in the presence of a severe shock such as that produced by an explosive charge or air gun commonly employed for conducting seismic surveys over water-covered areas.

Most hydrophones have a depth limit. An excessive overpressure can cause the active element to bend beyond its elastic limit, resulting in signal distortion and ultimate failure of the hydrophone. In the ceramic wafer type hydrophones, an internal stop is sometimes provided to prevent excessive bending of the element. The wafer, however, tends to develop a permanent deformation that degrades the output signal.

Polyvinylidene fluoride ("PVDF") has been used as another class of piezoelectric material in hydrophones. One such material is available under the tradename KYNAR from AMP corporation. The PVDF material is useful as a hydrophone active element because its acoustic impedance is close to that of water and the acoustic wavefields do not produce spurious reflections and diffractions as they do when encountering ceramic piezoelectric elements. The output signals of the PVDF element are many times greater than the signal output of a ceramic material. Also, PVDF material is readily available in various sheet sizes and a wide range of thickness. Such PVDF material may be readily shaped and cut to fit the intended use. Prior to use, the PVDF material is poled or activated in the thickness direction by application of a high electric field at an elevated temperature for a requisite time period. Conductive metal electrodes are evaporated on the opposite sides of the PVDF film as with the ceramic materials.

An external mechanical force applied to the PVDF film results in a compressive or tensile force strain. The PVDF film develops an open circuit voltage (electrical charge) proportional to the changes in the mechanical stress or strain. The charge developed diminishes with time, depending upon the dielectric constant of the film and the impedance of the connected circuitry. By convention, the polarization axis is the thickness axis. Tensile stress may take place along either the longitudinal axis or the width axis.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,653,036 teaches the use of a PVDF membrane stretched over a hoop ring. A metallic backing is attached to the back of the ring and a void between the film and the backing is filled with an elastomer such as silicone. The device operates in the bender mode. U.S. Pat. No. 4,789,971 shows the use of a voided slab of PVDF material sandwiched between a pair of electrodes. A bilaminar construction is also disclosed. A preamplifier is included in the assembly. The transducer operates in the thickness-compressive mode.

A hydrophone array shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,805,157 consists of multiple layers of PVDF material symmetrically disposed around a stiffener for prevention of flexural stresses. The axis of maximum sensitivity is in the direction transverse to the plane of the layers. This sensor is sensitive to compressive stress.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,361,240, issued to the inventor of this application, discloses a pressure-compensated PVDF hydrophone that contains a hollow mandrel having a concavity at an outer surface. A flexible and resilient piezoelectric film, preferably made from a PVDF material, is wrapped several times around the mandrel over the concavity to act as the active element of the hydrophone. The volume between the surface of the inner layer of the film and the concavity provides a pressure compression chamber. This hydrophone has been found to be responsive to varying hydrodynamic pressure fields but is substantially insensitive to acceleration forces, localized impacts and variations in hydrostatic pressures.

To perform seismic surveys in water-covered areas, one or more arrays of hydrophones, each array having a plurality of serially coupled hydrophones, are deployed on the bottom of a water-covered area or are towed behind a vessel. In bottom cable applications, hydrophones are commonly built as integral part of the cable. Each hydrophone is hermetically sealed with a suitable material, such as polyurethane. Such cable constructions are not conducive to easy repairs in the field. Defective hydrophone sections are removed and a cable section containing a working hydrophone is spliced in the place of the defective hydrophone. Such repairs are usually less reliable than unitary constructions and require excessive repair time, which can significantly increase the cost of the surveying operations, especially when performing three-dimensional seismic surveys as the down time can cost several thousand dollars per hour. Thus, there has been an unfilled need to provide a hydrophone which is easy to assemble into a hydrophone cable and easy to repair in the field.

The present invention addresses the above-noted problems and provides a segmented hydrophone that preferably utilizes a flexible and resilient piezoelectric material and a method of making same. The hydrophone segments may be combined to form a single hydrophone. The hydrophone segments removably attach to the cable which is suitably configured to accommodate the hydrophone segments. Any hydrophone segment can readily be replaced without requiring any splicing of the cable. The hydrophone is responsive to varying hydrodynamic pressure fields, but is substantially inert to acceleration forces, localized impacts and variations in hydrostatic pressure.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an acoustic sensor having one or more segments that are electrically coupled to provide a response corresponding to an acoustic pressure applied to the segments. Each segment contains a substrate of a desired shape with a concavity on an outer surface that is sealingly enclosed by an active member made from a flexible, resilient piezoelectric material. Polyvinylidene fluoride material is preferably used as the piezoelectric active element. The active element is covered with a protective layer of a suitable material, preferably a polymer material. A single segment may be used as a sensor or a plurality of segments may be coupled to form the sensor.

In one embodiment, the sensor of the present invention may be used in hydrophone cables for performing seismic surveys. In such applications, a plurality of spaced sensors made according to the present invention are attached along the length of a suitably configured cable. Each such sensor preferably contains two electrically coupled hydrophone segments are placed on a rigid member placed on the cable. One or both hydrophone segments are coupled to a conductor in the cable, preferably via an under water plug-in connector. The cable is configured to accommodate the hydrophone segments between a nose section and a rear or tail section. The nose section preferably has a smoothly increasing cross-section while the rear section has a smoothly decreasing cross-section. The nose section is preferably substantially shorter in length than the tail section. One or more of such hydrophone cables are usually arranged in a matrix or an array for performing seismic surveys. The sensor of the present invention, however, may also be used in other applications requiring the use of a hydrophone.

Examples of the more important features of the invention thus have been summarized rather broadly in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood and in order that the contributions to the art may be appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject of the claims appended hereto.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For detailed understanding of the present invention, references should be made to the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements have been given like numerals and wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a partial sectional view of a two-segment hydrophone coupled to a cable according to the present invention.

FIG. 1a shows a cross-sectional view of the hydrophone shown in FIG. 1 taken along A--A.

FIG. 2 shows an exploded perspective view of certain elements of the hydrophone of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows a top view of segment 30 of the hydrophone shown in FIG. 1 having a plug-in connector for electrically coupling such segment to the cable.

FIG. 4 shows a sectional view taken along A--A of the hydrophone segment shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 shows a top view of an active element for use in the hydrophone segments of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

For convenience and simplicity and not as a limitation, the sensor of the present invention is described as a two-segment hydrophone placed on a type of cable typically used for conducting seismic surveys for geophysical prospecting. Accordingly, FIG. 1 shows a partial cross-sectional view the preferred embodiment of a two-segment hydrophone coupled to a cable according to the present invention. FIG. 1a shows a cross-sectional view of the hydrophone assembly of FIG. 1 taken along the A--A shown therein. FIG. 2 shows an exploded perspective view of the hydrophone assembly shown in FIG. 1.

Now referring to FIGS. 1, 1a and 2, the hydrophone assembly includes a cable 10 having a plurality of twisted pairs of conductors 8 placed around a core member 9 along the cable length. The conductors 8 are encased in one or more layers 12 of protective coatings. A molded section 14 is formed over the cable 10 to suitably accommodate hydrophone segments between a nose (front end) 34 having a smoothly increasing cross-section from a point of attachment 33 on the cable 10 to a point 38 and a smoothly decreasing cross-section tail (rear end) 14a that extends from a point 20 of maximal diameter d₁ to a point 18 on the cable exterior. The front end 34 preferably has a higher slope than the tail end 14a to reduce the noise effect due to hydrodynamic turbulence produced when the cable 10 is pulled under water. Longitudinal flanges 22a and 22b, each having a desired width d₂ extends axially along the cable 10 from the maximal diameter point 20 up to the point 38 on opposite sides of the cable 10. Each flange contains a plurality of holes 24 for accommodating therein suitable tying elements such as bolts. Conductors 16 taken out from the cable are coupled to a suitable underwater connector 17 for providing electrical connection between the cable 10 and the hydrophone segments. The connector 17 and the conductors 16 are preferably molded in the section 14a exposing only the mating end of the connector 17 to the end 20.

Hydrophone segments 30 and 32, each having an inner surface that substantially conforms to the outer surface of suitable rigid members placed on the cable are placed over the rigid member juxtaposed with the edge 20. The rigid members provide support for the hydrophone segments and prevent bending of the hydrophones when the cable 10 bends during handling and use. The hydrophone segments 30 and 32 may be conveniently secured on the cable by attaching the segments to the flanges 22 by bolts 26 placed through the holes 24 and corresponding access holes 28 made in the segments 30 and 32. The hydrophone segment 30 contains a connector 40 that may be removably connected to the cable connector 17. The connectors 40 and 17 sealingly mate with each other to prevent fluid leakage into the conductors connected to such connectors for carrying electrical signals.

The hydrophone segments 30 and/or 32 may contain a preamplifier 45 suitably coupled between the connector 17 and an active element of the hydrophone (described later) to amplify signals received from the hydrophone segments 30 and 32 prior to transmitting such signals through the cable 10. Hydrophone segments 30 and 32 are electrically coupled to each other by suitable means known in the art, such as connectors.

The nose 34 preferably has two halves 34a and 34b, each such half having an inner surface that substantially conforms to the cable outer surface, are placed against the hydrophone segments 30 and 32 and securely attached to the cable 10 by a suitable means such as bolts. The outer surface of the nose 34 preferably has a smooth surface 39 extending from the cable diameter to the diameter of the hydrophone segments at the end 38. The hydrophone segments 30 and 32 may be easily removed from the cable 10 by removing the nose section 34 and the bolts 26 to repair or replace a particular hydrophone segment.

The above-described cable hydrophone utilizes two hydrophone segments attached around a cable. One segment contains a preamplifier and a connector electrically coupling the hydrophone to a conductor take-out from the cable. Although the cable hydrophone described herein has two segments, the hydrophone according to the present invention, however, may contain one or more segments that are electrically coupled to each other. In certain applications, it may be desirable to utilize more than two hydrophone segments placed around the cable. In such cases, provision is made for placing the desired number of segments around the cable in a manner similar to that described above. The elements and construction of the hydrophone segments will now be described while referring to FIGS. 1-4.

FIG. 3 shows a plan view of the hydrophone segment 30 shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional view taken along lines A--A of the hydrophone segment 30 shown in FIG. 3. This hydrophone segment contains a substrate or mandrel 50 having an inner surface 52 that preferably conforms to the surface on which such segment is intended to be mounted. In the case of the cable hydrophone shown in FIG. 1, the substrate 50 has a concave inner surface that conforms to the outer surface of a rigid member mounted on the outer surface of the cable 10. The outer surface 54 of the substrate 50 has a concavity 56 of a desired shape and depth bounded by shoulders 58. A rectangular concavity 56 is preferred for use in the cable hydrophones. The depth of the cavity 56 depends upon the desired application.

Concavity 56 is preferably covered by a compliant diaphragm 68 made from a suitable polymer material such as polycarbonate. The size of the diaphragm 68 is sufficient to cover the entire concavity 56. The diaphragm 68 is hermetically sealed at the shoulders 58 by a suitable means 64, such as an adhesive or a clamp, placed around the entire periphery of the concavity 56 to form a sealed chamber or space 66 between the diaphragm 68 and the inner surface of the concavity 56. The sealed chamber 66 usually is filled with air or an inert gas such as nitrogen either at the ambient pressure or at higher pressure. An active element 60 in the form of a thin sheet or film of a flexible resilient piezoelectric material, preferably a PVDF material, is placed over the diaphragm 68. The active element 60 is preferably bonded to the diaphragm. The active member and the diaphragm flex in response to acoustic signals in the form of pressure waves "P" (see FIG. 1). The thickness of the PVDF film 60 is preferably in the order of 28 microns, although other thicknesses may be used. The diaphragm 68 provides spring action to the active element 60 that defines response of the active element 60. To make the hydrophone segment, it may be desirable to first bond the active member 60 to the diaphragm 68 and then bond the diaphragm to the concavity shoulders 58. In an alternative embodiment, the active element 60 may be placed directly on the concavity 56 and hermetically sealed along the shoulders 58.

FIG. 5 shows the electrical connection takeout from the active member 60. As shown in FIG. 5, a metalized electrode 70 is deposited over both sides of most of the active element 60, leaving an inactive or inert border or edge 72 around the electrode member 70. Evaporated silver or silver ink are most common electrode compositions although other metals, such as gold, may be used. Electrical leads 74 and 76 deliver electrical signals to signal conditioner or preamplifier 45. The signals from the signal conditioner are passed to the connector 40 via the conductor 47.

Referring back to FIGS. 1a-4, the active element 60 is covered by a layer 80 of a suitable material. For cable hydrophone applications, the active element 60 and the substrate are preferably encapsulated by a polyurethane material, exposing only the necessary elements, such as the connector 40, to the atmosphere while retaining the overall shape that will provide a snug fit of the assembly shown in FIG. 3 on the cable. Holes 28 that match the holes 24 in the flanges 22a and 22b are provided along the edges of the segment 30 for attaching the segment to the flanges 22a and 22b as described earlier.

In operation, uniformly distributed radial acoustic hydrodynamic transient pressure fields, as represented by the inwardly directed arrows "P" such as shown in FIG. 1, exert compressive stress along the longitudinal and lateral axes of the active element 60, generating a voltage output in response to pressure variations. Compensation for changes in hydrostatic pressure is provided by the volume of gas in the enclosed chamber 66. As the external hydrostatic pressure increases or decreases, inward contraction or expansion of the flexible resilient piezoelectric element creates corresponding changes in the pressure of the gas chamber 66, thus equalizing the internal and external pressures. It has been found that for most of the applications in the field of seismic exploration, a hydrophone having unpressurized air in the chamber produces adequate response.

The hydrophone segments 30 and 32 may be configured for optimum electrical output at a desired range of operating depths by adjusting the volumetric capacity of the chamber 66: a larger volume provides for a wider operating range. By reason of its construction, the hydrophone is inherently insensitive to acceleration forces. A random localized impact, such as might be applied by a sharp object, will result in a small signal, but the resulting electrical charge will be dissipated over the entire active element 60 and become sufficiently attenuated so as be a virtually undetectable. The hydrophone, therefore, is substantially electrically inert to localized mechanical forces. Because of the pressure equalization by the gas in the chamber 66, the active element is not sensitive to hydrostatic pressure variations.

Thus, the present invention provides a hydrophone having one or more hydrophone segments that are electrically coupled to provide a response corresponding to a hydrodynamic pressure applied to the segments. Each segment contains a concavity on an outer surface that is sealingly enclosed by an active member made from a flexible, resilient piezoelectric material. A single segment may be used as a hydrophone or a plurality of segments may suitably configured and electrically coupled to each other to form a hydrophone.

The foregoing description is directed to particular embodiments of the present invention for the purpose of illustration and explanation. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art that many modifications and changes to the embodiment set forth above are possible without departing from the scope and the spirit of the invention. It is intended that the following claims be interpreted to embrace all such modifications and changes. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An acoustic sensor having a flexible-piezoelectric material sealingly placed over a cavity formed in a substrate and an insulating material placed on the piezoelectric material to protect the piezoelectric material from the surrounding environment, wherein the piezoelectric material is a polyvinylidene fluoride material.
 2. A hydrophone suitable for towing under water by a cable, comprising:(a) an outer shape having a nose section with a smoothly increasing cross-sectional diameter from a point of attachment to the cable to a point of first outside diameter and a tail section with a smoothly decreasing cross-sectional diameter from a second outside diameter to a point of attachment to a tail bridle, said nose section having a slope that is greater than the slope of the tail section; and (b) a hydrophone having two segments detachably placed between the points of the first and second outer diameters, each said segment having:(i) a substrate having a concavity on an outer surface; (ii) a diaphragm placed on the concavity to define an enclosed chamber therebetween; (iii) a piezoelectric material placed over the diaphragm; and (iv) an encapsulating material placed on the piezoelectric material to protect the piezoelectric material from the surrounding environment.
 3. An acoustic sensor comprising:(a ) a substrate having a concavity on an outer surface; (b ) a piezoelectric material placed over the concavity to form an enclosed chamber between the piezoelectric material and the concavity; and (c) an encapsulating material placed on the piezoelectric material to protect the piezoelectric material from the surrounding environment.
 4. An acoustic sensor comprising:(a) substrate having a concavity on an outer surface; (b) a diaphragm placed over the concavity to define a sealed chamber between the diaphragm and the concavity; (c) a piezoelectric material placed over the diaphragm; wherein the piezoelectric material is a sheet of polyvinylidene fluoride material; and (d) a protective layer placed over the piezoelectric material.
 5. A hydrophone suitable for towing under water by a cable comprising an outer shape having a nose section with a smoothly increasing cross-sectional diameter from a point of attachment to the cable to a point of first outside diameter and a tail section with a smoothly decreasing cross-sectional diameter from a second outside diameter to a point of attachment to a tail bridle, said nose section having a slope that is at least equal to the slope of the tail section and a hydrophone placed between the points of the first and second outer diameters.
 6. The acoustic sensor as specified in claim 4 further having a connector coupled to the piezoelectric material.
 7. The acoustic sensor as specified in claim 4, wherein the diaphragm and the piezoelectric material are bonded to each other.
 8. A hydrophone, comprising:(a) a first and second substrate, each said substrate having a concave outer surface and a cavity thereon; (b) a flexible piezoelectric material sealingly placed on the cavity of each substrate to define a sealed chamber thereon; (c) an insulating material encapsulating each piezoelectric material; and (d) means for electrically coupling the piezoelectric materials.
 9. The acoustic sensor as specified in claim 8, wherein an electrical connector is coupled to one of the piezoelectric materials for coupling the hydrophone to a mating connector placed on a cable.
 10. A sensor array comprising:(a) a cable having a plurality of conductors therein along the cable length; and (b) a plurality of spaced hydrophones placed in spaced relation on the cable, each said hydrophone having a substrate having a cavity on an outer surface, a flexible piezoelectric material placed on the cavity to form an enclosed chamber and an insulating material placed on the flexible piezoelectric material to hermetically seal the piezoelectric material.
 11. The apparatus as defined in claim 10, wherein the flexible piezoelectric material is a sheet of a PVDF material.
 12. The apparatus as defined in claim 10, wherein the enclosed chamber contains a pressurized inert gas.
 13. The apparatus as defined in claim 10, further having a diaphragm between the concavity and the flexible piezoelectric material.
 14. The apparatus as defined in claim 10, wherein a rigid member is placed between the hydrophone and the cable outer surface.
 15. The apparatus as defined in claim 14, wherein the substrate and rigid member are made from aluminum.
 16. A sensor array, comprising:(a) a cable having a plurality of serially spaced take-out conductors along the length of the cable; (b) a separate hydrophone placed coupled to each said takeout, each said hydrophone having two segments, each segment having:(i) a substrate having an outer surface with a concavity thereon and an inner surface that is adapted to be removably attached on the cable, (ii) a diaphragm placed on the concavity to form an enclosed chamber, (ii) a flexible piezoelectric material bonded to the diaphragm; and (iii) an insulating material placed on the piezoelectric material to seal the piezoelectric material from the outside environment, andwherein the two segments are securely placed around the cable and electrically connected to each other.
 17. The hydrophone as specified in claim 5 wherein the slope of the nose section is substantially greater than the slope of the tail section.
 18. The hydrophone as specified in claim 17 wherein the nose and tail sections have circular cross-section. 